Cessna 195 accident near Colorado Sprgs, Colorado, September 25, 1987
On September 25, 1987 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N3006B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colorado Sprgs, Colorado (Cty Of Colorado Spgs Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1987 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Sprgs, Colorado · Cty Of Colorado Spgs Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N3006B · registry record · serial 7889
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER HE LNDD TO PICK UP A PAX, HE ENGAGED THE CONTROL LOCK FM HABIT, BUT DID NOT SHUT DWN THE ENG. HE GOT CLNC TO TAXI BACK TO THE RWY & TAKEOFF, BUT 'FORGOT TO RELEASE CONTROL LOCK.' THE CESSNA 195 HAS A COMBINATION CONTROL LOCK AND PARKING BRAKE. WHEN ENGAGED, IT SETS THE BRAKES & LOCKED ONLY THE AILERONS & RUDDER. IT DID NOT LOCK THE ELEVATORS. HOWEVER, THE ELEVATOR SYS HAS A 'DETENT' THAT WOULD HOLD THE CONTROL FULL FORWARD. SINCE THE ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS FULL FORWRD, THE TAIL OF THE ACFT CAME UP QUICKLY. THE PLT STATED THT 'UPON REALIZING WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I TRIED TO UNLOCK CONTROL BUT WAS TOO LATE AND NOSE WENT INTO RUNWAY CAUSING FLIP-OVER.' LATER, WHEN THE PLT WAS CONTACTEDFOR CLARIFICATION, HE SAID HE HAD MOVED THE CONTROL INTO THE DETENT TO GET IT OUT OF HIS WAY. ALSO, HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE COULD HAVE PULLED THE CONTROL OUT OF THE DETENT 'WITH A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT,' BUT 'THINGS JUST HAPPENED TOO FAST.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,925 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 2,660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SKX Taos NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 8,511 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:22 pm from COS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.